Shabby Chic W/E Project (Redux)

I originally posted this Shabby Chic project on my other blog, Designing Sass, but I'm not sure if I'll ever post there again? I'd really like to, but it's really hard to keep up two blogs, let alone three. A shame, too, because I spent so long making the template of that one really pretty. Anywho, more on that later...Here's my original post:

I've been looking for a printer stand for awhile...not necessarily a true printer stand, but anything furniture-wise that I could put a printer on. Right now, it's propped on some plastic drawers, but the top of one is caving under the weight of the printer, so...you get the point.

So, as soon as I saw this dresser at the Salvation Army, I saw the potential in it to become my printer stand...with some nice paint, scrapbook paper, and decoupage.

Here's, basically, what it looked like before:

I had already taken off the knob (see below) and 3 little colored domes that are fit just above the drawer (you can kinda see where they used to be by the indentations)


Not so cute knob...it's ok, just not my thing


Same thing w/ the feet


All sanded and primed now! Ready for some pretty paint!


All painted up...still not thaaaat cute


Ah...now we're getting somewhere! I used some pretty, floral scrapbook paper to do a decoupaged finish to the top of the nightstand and the front of the drawer...it's far from perfect, but I love it! Now, all I need is a new knob...hmm...


That's when I run into this...argh! Who knew a store could have so many!? I went with a cheap acrylic one...it's just for me and for a $10 difference, it doesn't matter too much...I still found the look I was going for.


All done! Yay!


But...now, do I really want to stick a stinky ole' computer on top of my super cute handiwork? Decisions, decisions...any ideas?

I posted this a few months ago, and haven't put a printer on it yet. Guess that answers that question! lol

Sick Day - Beef & Barley Soup

I was sick last week, but luckily, I had some yummy Beef & Barley soup that my mom maid for me the last time I was home (it keeps well in the freezer). I can't put the recipe up b/c I don't have it...sorry! I do know that it's from a Disney cook book, if that helps. Anywho, I really love these little vintage-y napkins I found while thrifting recently. I think one is hand-embroidered!

Thanks Mom!

Btw...this is weird, but I have to point out...doesn't this piece of barley look like a monkey face or something? Bizarro!

Vintage Book - Under the Lilacs

Lookie what I found thrifting:

Under the Lilacs - a book by Louisa May Alcott. I guess since I never read Little Women, I didn't realize this was the same author. I just figured I'd found some random, obscure vintage book, but I guess this one is actually pretty famous. I read a couple reviews on Amazon, and apparently people who like Little Women will probably also like this book. I suppose the fact that this book is written by the same author would make one gather that conclusion, but you never know.


Anywho, I'm not sure exactly how old this book is, but it's about to fall apart...lol. However, I love the vintage binding and the darling drawings throughout. I wonder if the new version still has them? (the images, of course, not the binding)

My Pink & Green Swap Goodies Are Here!

Yay! My Pink & Green Swap goodies are here! Check out all the cool stuff I got from my swap buddy, Christina:

Super cute teacup, adorable, porcelain egg-holder, yummy candy, pretty pink tin bucket, craft goodies, party napkins, fun fabric remnants, unique teapot, adorable handmade pillow with button accents

It's all so wonderful! Thanks Christina for doing such a good job! I love it all! Now, I just hope you like yours as much as I like mine!

Thrift Jackpot!

I hit the thrift jackpot this weekend! I found lots of "firsts" to add to my thrift collection, like this apron:

After seeing everyone else's awesome vintage apron finds all the time, I was starting to wonder if I would ever find any. This weekend, I hit up a new Goodwill, and this one was so nice, clean, and best yet - organized! All the fabrics, scarves, bedding, and other fabric goods were all nicely hung up, so I thrifted quite a few nice fabric finds.

I also found my first vintage tin! Lookie! Ooh, and a vintage, cottage-chic style floral pillowcase...

Isn't it adorable? I also found some pink fabric napkins - a set of 4, actually.


I also found these awesome fabric thrifts - a purple/yellow/white/green tablecloth and a set of 3 placemats in a yellow color that almost matches the tablecloth. Also, a sheer table runner, which I think I'm going to use for my booth displays when I do craft shows.

I think I'll be visiting that Goodwill every weekend now!

Vintage Pyrex Mixing Bowls

Lookie what I finally got! My Pyrex mixing bowls are here! Aren't they gorge?

I can't decide if I'll actually use them or not, but for now, I am merely satisfied looking at them...

...I'll probably use them though...

...as Janis Joplin says, "If you got it today, you don't wear it tomorrow, man."

That's one of my favorite song lines, quotes, whatever...I interpret it as - Life is too short to save the best things for later, when tomorrow may never come. I guess that's kinda depressing, but perhaps a better way of phrasing it is that you should live each day to the fullest! Yea...that sounds better. Anywho, that may or may not have been what Janis meant with her song (or live rant during a song), but I like my interpreted message, so I'll stick with it.

Wear your favorite outfit today...use your best china for every day meals...break open that bottle of wine you've been saving...whatever. Life is too short to not celebrate the everyday. :)

Weekend at Mom's

Ok, so I didn't spend the weekend with my mom, but I did spend the weekend with my fiance's mom. I love hanging out with his mom b/c she loves a good thrifting trip just as much as I do, so we hit up JoAnn's for some craft goodies and home decor, then headed to a local consignment/antique shop to see what finds we could get our hands on. I got this awesome cake plate:


I don't think it's antique, but it's so cute, who cares? A fair price too, marked down 50% to $9, eh?

We even got some quality time with not only his mom's dogs, but his sister's dog too. He looked so cute curled up in the armchair, I had to snap a quick shot. He opened his eyes to see what was going on, but quickly fell back asleep...awww


We even got home with enough time for me to make a nice dinner to kick off the new week - Beef Stroganoff:

Sweet Strawberry Banana Snack

My parents are pretty healthy eaters, so growing up, we had lots of fruit and "fruit bowls" for snacks & dessert. I haven't been eating nearly the amount of fruit that I should be lately, but after a recent visit home, I was inspired to start keeping more fruit stocked at my home. So far, we've been eating lots of apples & oranges, but on a recent trip to the grocery store, I decided to switch things up a bit by picking up some fresh, slightly green bananas and some strawberries, which were on sale! I decided to re-create one of my mom's fruit bowls and sliced up the bananas and berries, topped with a sprinkle of sugar, and enjoyed! Mmmmmm...so good and good for you!

Do you see that cute little Strawberry Pitcher in the background? I found that a month or so ago and rescued it from Salvation Army. I actually think it may be handmade! Instead of a production stamp on the bottom, I saw what appeared to be a hand-etched stamp:

Norma
W
1980

Can you believe it was only 79 cents? I can't wait until this summer when we go strawberry picking and I can serve all our hand-selected strawberries with some handmade-pitcher-poured whipped cream.

Vintage Flower Frame

I went to my first estate sale this weekend...unfortunately, I decided to sleep in, so I think all the good finds were gone by the time I got there, but I did manage to find this pretty little vintage flower frame (says made in Italy on the back) for a mere $2:

I put it up on top of a shelf in my living room along with some other fun opaque white glassware I've found at random garage sales and Salvation Army - mostly Salvation Army - there seems to be a lot of this white pieces there.

Also, I don't think this is a painting...looks more like a decoupage or something, which is why I'm calling it a frame...I don't know what else to call it! lol

Anywho, this little frame is just adorable...I'm glad I was able to find something worth taking home from the "leftovers".

Italian Chicken Soup

I was watching Food TV this weekend and saw the easiest recipe on Paula's Home Cooking with Paula Deen for a delicious and healthy soup - Italian Chicken and Vegetable Soup. It looked so simple and yummy...I simply had to try it for dinner tonight:



This soup couldn't have been simpler. The ingredients to this one-pot wonder were simple and affordable and the soup turned out mighty tasty.

See the pretty green glass bowl? I got that this weekend at Salvation Army while I was on a quick thrifting trip on my way back from tennis.

Oh, and the garlic bread is a 30 Minute Meal recipe by super simple recipe diva Rachel Ray - basically heat olive oil, butter and crushed (not chopped) fresh garlic over low heat for 10ish minutes. Slice some nice crusty bread and broil till toasted. Brush oil mixture on bread and serve. I believe Ray Ray's recipe also features parmesan cheese and parsley, but I don't always have those on hand and it tastes pretty good without. Just be sure to keep an eye on the bread if you try this! That broiler works fast!

Vintage Fruit Painting

I found this vintage fruit painting at a flea market several weeks ago. While the painting is quite cute, I really only bought it b/c I read that Marha Stewart's people are collecting vintage fruit paintings (I think it was in their January issue). So, eat your heart out, Martha....lookie at what I found for only $1:

Coincidently, I found the jadeite sugar shaker on Ebay. The olive oil bottle is just from our local hardware store. Yep, I said hardware store...it's one of those little mom & pop shops, much like the store Daisy Cottage has.

I do have to admit, the more I look at this little painting in my kitchen, the more I like it. :)

Thrifting For Spring

I had today off b/c my company gets bank holidays...yay! Holidays are good, but I always feel like my "extra holidays" go wasted. I usually sleep in, then I have to run errands, clean up...the next thing I know, my whole day is gone and I didn't get to do any of the fun stuff I wanted to get done like crafting, baking, thrifting. Well, ok, I did manage to fit in some thrifting, but why do these days go by so quickly when my work days seem to go by so slowly? I guess time flies when you're having fun? I dunno...but I wish there were more hours in the day so I could finally get some well-needed crafting done.

I did manage to find this fab white vase thingy and some vintage books.

I'm not really sure what it's supposed to be used for, but I thought these silk hydrangeas would look quite nice with it. What do you think? I'm channeling Martha Stewart again...this reminds me of something I'd see in her Martha Stewart Living magazines...very springy too! I bought the books for their color...I've never heard of the titles or authors before...hmm...maybe I should google them to see if they're at all interesting?

Here's a great find I've been meaning to post about for awhile now.

No, I didn't thrift this. I wish I did, but I got it on ebay for a reasonable price. Can you believe they actually still had the carrier? It's a vintage Pyrex with a turquoise bird pattern...it's one of the best pieces of my collection...I think, at least.

Anyone else out there thrifting for spring?

Lovely Vintage Plates

I have been having such good luck plate-hunting lately...

oops! Did I just jinx myself? Knock on wood...darn you, superstition!

Anywho, I've found some of the most amazing plates lately to add to my growing collection. I picked up this stunning stack of dainty little plates from Salvation Army a few weeks back. It's a bit hard to tell from the photo, but they have slightly worn golden edges, but the best part - a delicate circle of little flowers and butterflies...these will be perfect "Tea Party" plates!


I found these babies at a local antique/consignment store. I am so in love with turquoise, which is unfortunate, b/c they seem to be the hardest color to find. I suppose on the positive side, it makes the thrill of the hunt even more enjoyable b/c it's much less likely to make a great turquoise find! Anywho, I love this set of 5 turquoise rimmed plates with flower center design, even though one of them has a crack...they're just so pretty!


Anyone else out there have any amazing finds lately?

Just Wow...

So, I'm standing in line at Salvation Army with my Villeneuve signed/numbered, limited edition art print, when I spot this woman looking at a simple brown box across the counter...what could it be?


Then, I noticed something...
a long thin piece of...my gosh, is that string? Oooh...If only I could see from across the counter. Could it be a box of vintage sewing goods? I imagined a collection of vintage spools, needles, and patterns as I crossed my fingers and hoped the woman walked away.

Well, she did walk away...and straight to the counter where her friend was checking out in front of me...I heard her pose a question to the (I believe he is the) manager of the store. "10% off since this has been here since the 23rd," he says. I see her thinking...the wheels in her head are literally turning. Should I run over while she's distracted and grab the box, I wondered? No...no way...I just can't.

So I waited her out...and eventually, she walked away. I took that as my cue to move in. I asked the man behind me in line (and there was quite the line...so busy on Saturday!) if he would watch my place in line. He very nicely said he would, so I hurried over to the other side of the counter before anyone else could beat me there.

I slowly opened the box lid to see what treasures would be inside and voila! A whole collection of embroidery floss. I was slightly disappointed at not finding the assortment of vintage goodies I had previously imagined, but continued to inspect the box.


I found a drawer at the bottom of the box containing an assortment of brand new, unopened DMC embroidery floss...hmmm...not too shabby, I thought. But, it seemed I was missing something. Like there was another way to open the box. I stood there trying to figure out this new puzzle before me and tugged on the middle walls...pushed them to see if they'd slide out. Maybe if I just lift the top...


"I didn't know the top came off," said the woman who had been looking at the box before, as we both stared at the huge collection of embroidery floss, secretly stashed under the top section of the box. How much was it? $29.99 - $27 after the 10% discount...I happily lifted the box, headed back to my place in line, checked out, and took my new goodies home.


Of course, being the organization freak that I often am, you know what I had to do...

Yea, it's color coordinated now. Luckily, each of the cards were already numbered. I even found an official DMC color list to use for my order...I'm such a dork!

Signed, Numbered Thrift Find Print

I found the most amazing floral print to hang in my craft room. I barely spotted it, as it was behind some other frames, but Salvation Army was lookin good this weekend with all the great treasures I uncovered, this being one of them:


It's even signed and numbered!


The frame appears to be a bit skewed - doesn't quite lay straight against the wall - but it's still really pretty and I like it. :)

Pretty Rosy Plates

Ok, so I guess they're not really "plates" per se...but you get the point. I purchased this creamer/sugar set and 5 matching bowls from a local antique store. Aren't they gorgeous?



I had just checked out a new antique store (not so much new as in it just opened, but it was new to me), and I looked all 3 floors of it seeing, unfortunately, nothing turquoise and nothing green. *sad face*

Just as I was thinking my search would go empty, I happened to check one...last...shelf, and voila! I found this creamer/sugar set. There's something to creamer/sugar sets...I guess some people collect vases, and maybe this is just what I'm supposed to collect? Who knows...all I know is that at this moment in time, I am super drawn to them and am ready to grab up any reasonably priced set in turquoise, yellow, pastel green, or pretty floral...like the one pictured above. Anywho, I happened to remember the seeing the bowls arouund the corner, and the next thing I know...I'm headed home with a big grin and a grocery bag full of beautiful plateware.

Vintage Turquoise Heron "Jar"

In addition to visiting my mom this past weekend to spend some quality time for her birthday, I also managed to get her out of the house...not an easy task to get a QVC fanatic out and about. We headed to the local flea market, but we didn't make it out until waaaaay late. The outside part sucked big time. All I saw were tables of Nike shoes, stereos and a whole bunch of produce. I must have seen at least 15 tables of each and twice as much over with the product. Just when I had given up hope, we headed to an indoor section, which was marked "commercial vendors." I thought it would be a bust - full of only Mary Kay, Tupperware, and other mass-produced items, but to my shock, there were 3 or 4 grandmother-types selling their personal collections. I picked up a few awesome pieces, including this gorgeous, turquoise number:

The ceramic-looking "jar" (I'm not really sure exactly what it is) is imprinted with litle herons and tall grass motifs, but it's just that color that keeps me intrigued.

The woman told me this had been in her house for years, but I really just wanted it for the color. I mean, just look at it! I spotted it from a mile away and ran over to the table, swooped up the bowl, quickly asked the price and carried it around while I perused the table like I was carrying around a small baby. I ended up getting a gorgeous vintage lamp from this same lady, but I didn't have time to shoot that today...sorry!

My Fave Vintage Find to Date!

I love shopping thrift stores...you can find some of the most amazing things there if you don't mind the hunt, which is probably the part I love the most. Ah...the thrill of the hunt...wondering what treasures you'll find that day...if any. I stopped by the Salvation Army this weekend to see what I could dig up. I found an almost complete set of plates - 3 small and 4 large - with vintage yellow flowers. They don't even have a stamp on the bottom, so I'm guessing that means they're really, really old? Anyone know what that means when plateware is blank on the bottom?

Anywho, I'm checking out the mugs when I see a treasure that makes me gasp slightly. Could this really be sitting here with all these other people checking the shelves about? How could they not see this amazing find just sitting there!? It's a delicate little vintage-turquoise teacup. I quickly checked the shelves for others, but alas...could find none. Still, I was beaming! How precious was this dainy little teacup? I could have left there and been done for the day...for weeks even, but I kept browsing. I picked up a couple little white bowls with slightly swirled edges that I thought may make excellent dessert serving dishes one day. Then, for whatever reason, I decided to check the rest of the plates. I normally don't check the plates...I normally look for mugs, sugar bowls, butter dishes, but today I looked at plates and boy am I glad I did. The thing is...it's so much work to dig through plates when your arms are already full of vintage finds that you're trying oh-so-careful to not drop. But, I decided, what the hay, I'll take a looksee. I started through some of the piles - boring white...ugly brown, dirty...broken...stacks of generic Wal-mart looking plates, and then at the bottom of one of them...Oh my!? Could it be? I stared at that last, bottom plate of the pile. Turquoise...and perhaps...I lifted the plate to the delicate turqoise teacup I had just found not 10 minutes ago and....YES! Hoorah! I couldn't believe it...I had just unearthed the matching plate for the teacup! I didn't even know it had a match, but how amazing for everything to come together under such a whim!



After shooting the teacup today with a previous vintage sugar bowl find, I decided to add the image to my header. What do you think? Not too shabby, eh?

Amazing Vintage Finds

I heard my favorite bead store was having a sale, so Saturday morning (read early afternoon) I headed over to that side of town. I had a little too much fun bead shopping and decided to hit up the Salvation Army on my way back. Boy, am I glad I did! I found some amazing vintage finds, including one piece of furniture I'll be posting about on Designing Sass...as soon as it's done, of course. The furniture was my weekend project, but the stupid hardware store down the road is seemingly never open and I need a knob to finish my handiwork. Anywho, here are my finds:



Not sure what this is...looks like candle holders, but I'll prolly use it to hold beads, sequins, or other artsy components

My fave find - is this straight out of a Martha Stewart magazine or what? This is going right on my desk...ASAP!

What a cute mug...I couldn't pass up for only 50 cents

Another adorable 50 cent mug - plus it's huge! This will be great for those lazy mornings or afternoon teas!

Silver-lined floral plates...I only found 2, but that's enough for having a friend over for brunch

A bowl set - at least it looks like a set...the one on the left is slightly flatter and lower, while the right one is taller and fits inside the other

Amazing stuff, right? I may have to hit this Salvation Army up every weekend! So much better than an overpriced antique store!